AU Steering wheel removal

T_Terror · 21-08-2005, 02:45 PM

Hi, not wishing to "trial & error" with an airbag equiped wheel so i thought id ask what the method of removal is?

THanks, John

JC · 21-08-2005, 02:48 PM

1. Disconnect battery.
2. remove plastic plugs on side of steering wheel backing cover.
3. Use a no 30 5 sided torx bit (most torx bits are 6 sided) to remove the security screws
4. Lift airbag from wheel - disconnect all wires.
5. Undo big torx bolt (6 sided this time - size 50, i think)
6. Use hands to bash steering wheel from behind and side to side and pull really, really hard.
7. Steering wheel should now be in your lap, or it may have hit you in the chest/face, but either way it will be off.

Note - for step 3, you can use a normal screwdriver with a notch removed from the centre of the blade, but you may go through a few screw drivers this way.

Note 2 - when relacing the 5 sided torx screws/bolts, use a 25mm long, 8mm hex (allen key) bolt instead - not as secure, but easier to do up and undo as required - as long as you have an allen key, of course.

T_Terror · 21-08-2005, 04:31 PM

Cool thanks JC

EFFalcon · 21-08-2005, 04:37 PM

leave the centre bolt in the steering wheel when trying to rip it off.
stops it hititng u in the face.

JC · 21-08-2005, 07:22 PM

Good idea - loosen the bolt all the way out first, then screw it in one to two turns so it's loose. Then bash and pull the wheel off.

sfr rob · 01-09-2005, 07:24 PM

ok, buying a momo wheel for my car tomorrow, need to take the wheel off to.
where can i buy the torx tool bits? are they all different sizes??

should i just take it to someone to do???? or what to do?!

thanks
Rob

mattsAU1 · 02-09-2005, 05:42 PM

how much are you paying for the momo if you dont mind me asking?
know of a few cheap ones geting round down here in geelong is all

sfr rob · 02-09-2005, 06:34 PM

$225

cheaper than that? thats pretty much as cheap as i can get them, asked around, someone offered $275, which apprently was as low as he could go! hahaha wont be buying that one!

:

mattsAU1 · 02-09-2005, 10:18 PM

i picked up a momo wheel thats black and ford blue for $200 from Becks Motorsport
also the Nth Geelong Auto Barn has a few out the back but not %100 sure which design you want or what designs they have left
they had them for $200 too
they also stock a few Momo auto and manual gear shifts i picked up a matching one for $65 for my auto and again not sure what they have left in stock
Tip- argue the price on the tag the gear shift they had $200 on i ipicked that up for $65 and the wheel they originally had like $600 on and they offered that one to me for $200
just old stock that they seem to be happy to get rid of

Steve_T · 05-09-2005, 11:15 PM

NB. To save all the bashing LOL, you could pick up a steering wheel puller from any auto shop. You can get 'em for $bugger_all most places and just grab a couple of bolts from bolt/hardware shop for a few bucks so it'll work with your wheel if you need to.

JC · 06-09-2005, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_T

NB. To save all the bashing LOL, you could pick up a steering wheel puller from any auto shop. You can get 'em for $bugger_all most places and just grab a couple of bolts from bolt/hardware shop for a few bucks so it'll work with your wheel if you need to.

Yeh, but bashing's cheap, fun and good stress relief. Just gotta watch that last pull that sees the wheel heading for your face!

aquahead2001 · 06-09-2005, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCXR8

Yeh, but bashing's cheap, fun and good stress relief. Just gotta watch that last pull that sees the wheel heading for your face!

Be careful bashing the wheel off, there's lots of little plastic dohickies inside the steering column, wouldn't want to brake any...

I changed the steering wheel over last year and used a steering wheel puller. It took a reasonable amount of force to get it to move too. Another tip is to remove the airbag fuse and once the air bag is unbolted, just lift it up and out of the way of the wheel, remove the back cover and wheel mounted buttons then add your new wheel and reverse the procedure.

As a matter of interest, I bought the wheel and matching gear nob for $240 total from Geelong's only Ford dealer.

Steve_T · 06-09-2005, 11:28 PM

Well if there's only one dealer in Geelong then I musta got my wheel from the same place - black/blue Momo for $165 + $30 for posting to Alice Springs - I was stoked to get that deal! (one of the last in stock to clear out lol)

One concern I was just thinking was how bad bashing may be for the collapsible and adjustable steering column - ?

sfr rob · 07-09-2005, 08:26 PM

damn it... you guys got a better deal on the wheel than me!

oh well...

i dont know how keen i am on removing the wheel myself now... seems a bit dangerous etc.

i need to pain my horn pad black too!

hmmm.....

JC · 07-09-2005, 08:38 PM

sfr_rob - Use VHT vinyl spray. I used it on my XR6 - it is more a dye than a paint so should be totally safe to use on the airbag pad. Put it this way, I never had a problem with it.

sfr rob · 07-09-2005, 08:42 PM

ok, i guess super cheap is the joint to go to? i bought some VINYL paint from there but the stuff just flaked and peeled off some stuff i painted... but on other stuff it roked FINE.... weird.

i see.. C2R wagon? really??? not going with the TS50 read bar?

where can i buy the socket set things.... or are they screw driver kind of things from?
and which ones will i most likely need....?

Steve_T · 07-09-2005, 11:03 PM

The bits you need for the wheel? - You need a "size 30 security torx plus bit" (it's a hex screwdriver bit) to remove the airbag. Dunno if anyone much would stock 'em although I see you're in Melbourne so some people should have 'em in stock. Try industrial/trade type tool/supply shops or bolt supply shops etc. - more specialist places probably. Or get one from Ford.

The bit for the main steering wheel bolt is a standard Torx bit - can't remember what size but size 50 like JCXR8 said sounds right - get individually from tool shops or in sets of different sizes from auto/hardware/tool shops. Instead of a hex bit, get this one as a socket bit which goes on to a square drive socket handle so you can put it straight on a breaker bar to make it easy. I think Kincrome make pretty cheap sets of these which may be the best idea if you're not sure of size.

StevenAu2 · 14-09-2005, 04:26 PM

Ive just spent all afternoon driving around to every shop i could imagine to try and find the most moronic tool,the 5 sided torx bit!!!! What a F^@#&n JOKE.Where the F@%# did everyone else buy theres from???

Steve_T · 15-09-2005, 01:04 AM

Well, I got mine from Blackwoods - I'm in Alice Springs so of course they had to order one in for me. I believe Blackwoods is only in SA/NT though so may not mean much to ya.

They are a specialized item so most people don't stock 'em - you need to order one in. However, I figured there has to be places in Sydney and Melbourne of all places that stock 'em - everyone else who orders 'em in has to get 'em from somewhere after all and that's usually where.

Only advice I have is it's no use going to any consumer/handyman/normal retail sorta stores - you'll need to go to an industrial tool suplies type place - ya' know - the places that sell tools/comsumables/fittings etc. to trades people and auto/service businesses etc. - I just dunno what places like that exist where you live (what names they are). Last resort - get Ford dealer to order one for you - dunno how much they'd charge though.

aquahead2001 · 15-09-2005, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_T

Well, I got mine from Blackwoods - I'm in Alice Springs so of course they had to order one in for me. I believe Blackwoods is only in SA/NT though so may not mean much to ya.

Blackwoods are actually national so you should find them in the yellow pages for capitals and maybe large regionals. I couldn't get the right Torx bit so I used a flat bladed bit with the centre removed from an el-cheapo Drive Bit Set. Luckily I had a few spares as I broke a couple on the first attempt.

Don't panic about the airbag going off, make sure you have the ignition off (keys removed!!), the air bag fuse removed and if your are OK to reprogram etc, the battery disconnected. Once the Torx Screws are out, just flip the air bag through the top of the wheel and then remove all the screws holding the buttons and back cover. Use a steering wheel puller to take the wheel off and then reverse the procedure.

It only takes about 30 minutes.

The Ford Parts Manager advised me not to paint the air bag as this may affect the plastics and thus the operation of the bag... Just a tip guys...

sfr rob · 15-09-2005, 10:08 AM

thanks for the info mate, going to do this on the weekend!

i dont know about the paint affecting the air bag operating though!
not as if you are gaffa taping the thing together! lol.

thanks
Rob

FTGAutosalvage · 16-09-2005, 12:00 AM

anyone in melbourne needing the use of one of these tools can come down to our shop and borrow one. as long as its used on site.
we can also supply them but they are not cheap.

StevenAu2 · 16-09-2005, 07:46 PM

Ive ended up buying an cheapo set of bits with some screwdriver attachments with the centre missing so il try and get the P.O.S off tmrow.PS i went and asked Ford and they said they know of the part but wouldnt be able to order me the tool.I have 1 more tool shop that sells just about everything il try if the screwdriver with the centre missing doesnt work.

StevenAu2 · 17-09-2005, 04:39 PM

Hey guys thanks to this thread especially JCXR8s steps ive managed to get the wheel off and the momo on with no dramas at all.
I couldnt find the special tool,i went everywhere and Ford straight out said NO!!! I also found out the Taxis hav been chasing the same tool so they can disconnect the airbag.
The 5 sided torx bit was a piece of @!$$ getting off,i brought a set of screwdriver bits with the centres missing,sort of like a 2 bladed fork and the thing unscrewed easy!!! I even put the 5 sided torx bolts back in,goodluck anyone wanting to steal the steering wheel (who hasnt read this thread!!!)

**Mechan1k** · 17-09-2005, 05:38 PM

Time for me to do this mod now ... I just picked up the Black/grey MOMO from Roman Autotek today for $220 ... woo hoo.

sfr rob · 17-09-2005, 11:44 PM

yeah mate, got my old man to knock me up a tool ( he is a tool maker by trade )and we took the bolts out no wokkers! how good are the wheels?!

xr8ute · 18-09-2005, 07:54 PM

I got my 5-sided Torx bits from Verdon Brothers in Port Kembla (Wollongong area) for about $20. They had them in stock.

Apparantly they only ever get bought by guys changing steering Wheels in Falcons, LOL.